Feature School arrived. We went to the entrance of the village to greet them. From a distance, we saw a team of more than 50 people neatly and orderly, leading the “Zhejiang Literature and Art to the Countryside Propaganda Team”. The red flags, their unconventional hairstyles, costumes, and dresses made the villagers stunned. I had just graduated from junior high school and I was considered half a cultural person in the village, so the team leader arranged me to act as a liaison officer. The liaison officer’s job is to report to the village leaders on the needs of the propaganda team in time, and what arrangements the village leaders have to communicate to me. Leader of the propaganda team. Play the role of a bridge of communication. The propaganda team leader’s surname is Kan. He is from Anhui. He is bold and humorous. He is a martial arts instructor at the school. He is very good with fighting. He often shows us his stunts in the field. When we get along for a period of time, we become like Peng. He He introduced me to the teachers and students in the propaganda team. When he introduced Yao Shuijuan, he appeared to be very solemn: Yao Shuijuan is a master of a generation, a figure of national treasure level, a pioneer and practitioner of Yue Opera, and has served in Zhejiang Province. The vice chairman of the Dramatists Association, a representative of the Provincial People’s Congress and a member of the CPPCC.
YAOSHUIJUAN:
one minute on stage, ten years of work off stage, everyone can’t be successful casually
T
here is a saying in the Yue opera world that “three flowers are not as good as one Juan, and one Juan is not as good as one Dan.” From this, I deeply feel that Teacher Yao Shuijuan is a hardworking, comprehensive, practical, pioneering and innovative, advancing with the times, not satisfied with the status quo. The pioneer of Shaoxing opera reform and innovation.
First encounter with Yao Shuijuan
16
On May 8, 1968, there was an explosive news in the small mountain village where my hometown was. There was a cultural and artistic publicity team going to the countryside in the provincial capital to be stationed in my village tomorrow. Among them were the big names in the art circles and the stars of the future. The news aroused everyone’s eagerness. The next day, a propaganda team composed of teachers and students from Zhejiang Art
In August 1935, the Yue Opera Troupe led by Yao Shuijuan performed “Jade Hairpin” in Hangzhou Great World, starring Li Xiuying. With its elegant and soft sleeves, the steps that move like clouds, the singing voice and the exquisite and vivid acting skills, Conquered the audience. Zhang Zaiyang, the chairman of Zhejiang Province at the time, was moved by her performance and praised her, chanting “Wonderful, three flowers are not as good as one Juan” (three flowers refer to Shi Yinhua, Zhao Ruihua, Wang Xinghua, one Juan refers to Yao Shuijuan), a famous Peking Opera performance Master Mei Lanfang even called Yao Shuijuan the “Queen of Yue Opera.”
